Brit Awards 2021: Dua Lipa tells Boris Johnson: 'Give NHS staff a pay rise'

Watch:Dua Lipa’s Brits call for NHS pay rise sparks government response

Dua Lipa used her acceptance speech at the 2021 Brit Awards to urge Boris Johnson to give frontline NHS staff a pay rise.

The Physical singer was named Best Female Solo Artist at the awards ceremony, held in London's O2 Arena as part of the government’s live events pilot scheme.

There was a live audience of 4,000, more than half of whom were key workers.

Lipa, 25, dedicated her award to pioneering British nurse Dame Elizabeth Anionwu.

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The Levitating singer said: "I think this is such an incredible initiative, to give another part of your award to someone. And my best British female is Dame Elizabeth Anionwu.

"She has spent her stellar nursing career fighting racial injustice. She has also spent so much time and is a strong advocate for protecting frontline workers.

"She has also said there is a massive disparity between respect and gratitude for frontline workers.

"Because it's very good to clap for them but we need to pay them!

"So I think what we should all do is give a massive round of applause and give Boris a message that we need to support a fair pay rise for our frontline!"

The speech prompted a standing ovation from the audience.

The winners at this year's Brits received two gongs – with a smaller statuette alongside their main prize to share with someone else.

Artists Es Devlin and Yinka Illori designed the "double trophy" to promote acts of kindness.

Taylor Swift was presented with the Brits' first ever Global Icon Award by Game Of Thrones star Maisie Williams.

Accepting it, the Shake It Off singer said: "Anyone who knows me knows Game Of Thrones is my life, so the fact that Maisie is here to present this – I want to grab you! But I can't – we're social distancing!"

She added: "I'm really proud to be part of this musical community in a year when we needed music more than ever. But what we really needed even more was the support of the NHS! So thank you."

Lewis Capaldi presented the final award of the night, and had to have his speech muted during the live broadcast on ITV as he consistently used bad language.

The last award, for Best Album, went to Dua Lipa, making her the only double winner of the evening.

She dedicated that award to Folajimi Olubunmi-Adewole, known as Jimi, who tragically drowned last month in the River Thames while trying to rescue a stranger who had fallen in. He was just 20 years old.

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Comedian Jack Whitehall hosted for the fourth time in a row, and Coldplay opened the show with a performance from a platform on the River Thames.

Watch: Little Mix make history as first female band to win Brit for Best British Group